Discover Amendoeira

Amendoeira offers travelers interested in history and outdoor activities a variety of points of interest: religious buildings, archaeological and medieval sites, and the Little Facho Route. These places differ in their landscape setting, historical period, and type of activity.

Churches and historic sites

Amendoeira’s architectural heritage includes the parish church of Igreja de São Nicolau. A chapel dedicated to Santa Madalena also stands on a hill above Amendoeira. In Latães, a locality belonging to Amendoeira, you’ll find the chapel of São Jerónimo. Together, these comprise one parish church and two chapels. Their names and locations help you distinguish between these religious buildings when planning your trip.

Pinhovelo also has several historic points of interest. Terronha de Pinhovelo lies on a rise above the village of Pinhovelo and was inhabited from at least the Iron Age until the 5th century AD. This time frame distinguishes it from the Pelourinho de Pinhovelo, a medieval granite monument. The pelourinho is about four metres high and stands in the centre of the village. The two sites thus represent distinct historical highlights: a settlement with a long history and a medieval monument. Their locations also differ: Terronha lies above the village, while the pelourinho is in the village centre. A pelourinho is a pillory: the term names the type of monument, while “medieval” indicates its historical period and “granite” describes its material. These three characteristics all apply to the Pelourinho de Pinhovelo; its approximate height of four metres adds a sense of scale.

The parish church of Pinhovelo has paintings by Isolino Vaz. This offers a distinct cultural highlight for travelers interested in painting as well as architecture. Alongside Terronha’s archaeological history and the medieval pelourinho, it adds another perspective on Pinhovelo’s cultural heritage.

Hiking and orientation

The Little Facho Route starts and ends in Pinhovelo’s village square and passes through the Freguesia of Amendoeira. The start and finish are therefore in the same village, while the route passes through the Freguesia. If you’re planning the hike, check local trail conditions before setting off. For travelers who want to make outdoor activity their focus, the route offers a different emphasis from the historic buildings and sites.

The road connections can also help with orientation. Amendoeira is less than 1 km from the junction linking IP-2 and IP-4. The village is also a short distance from the road connecting Macedo de Cavaleiros and Vale Pradinhos. These two road connections add another consideration for trip planning alongside the cultural and landscape attractions.

For an overview of the wider area: Macedo De Cavaleiros.